Grrrr....I typed out a response, and then lost my internet connection and lost it. I think we’ve posted to each other on this in the past, and I know you follow these very closely. And I do take your views on movies and the awards industry seriously, although I disagree with some of them.
Short version - Today, I believe nominations are handed out to mediocre films if the actors and actresses are on the right side of the political spectrum, or if the movie material spits in the face of traditional, conservative, and Christian values. If Sean Penn or George Clooney release a home video, odds are good they get nominated for Best Actor.
There are movies I have liked that have been nominated and won (Gladiator, Braveheart, Titanic). However, movies that I find insulting have won more. Issue-oriented movies definitely have been nominated more. Since you wish to limit the scope to only Best Picture Winners:
If Clint Eastwood doesn’t help kill the female boxer, I don’t believe Million Dollar Baby is nominated, let alone wins.
American Beauty - hahaha.
Crash - I’m making this up on the spot, but I may be right. The 99 uses of the word “F***” in this movie is probably more than the Best Picture winners from 1927 to 1960 combined.